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Pacheco's error sends Diamondbacks to 1-0 loss

Published on NewsOK
Modified: August 21, 2014 at 8:08 pm •
Published: August 21, 2014

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WASHINGTON (AP) — Wade Miley gave Arizona a chance by repeatedly working out of trouble. Third baseman Jordan Pacheco threw it all away in the ninth.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Cliff Pennington slams his helmet down after flying out to Washington Nationals right fielder Jayson Werth to make the last out of the third inning of a baseball game on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, in Washington. The Nationals defeated the Diamondbacks 1-0. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Pacheco's throwing error allowed Denard Span to score the winning run in Washington's 1-0 victory over the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

"I guess some losses are a little more difficult," first baseman Mark Trumbo said. "I think we battled as well as we could. Just didn't have too much offense to show for it. But our pitching staff did a great job."

Arizona dropped the last six games of a 1-7 road trip. Eight of the Diamondbacks' last 10 games have been decided by one run.

Rafael Soriano (4-1) pitched a scoreless ninth as Washington stretched its winning streak to 10, matching the franchise record. Five of Washington's last six wins have come in its final at-bat of the game.

"It's not how you plan it," Nationals manager Matt Williams said.

Washington's ninth hit was a one-out single for Span against Oliver Perez (2-3). Evan Marshall then came in and Span swiped second.

Anthony Rendon followed with a chopper to third. Pacheco's throw bounced off the dirt and into the first-base camera well, and Span was awarded home.

"To end it like that, that's definitely my fault," Pacheco said. "That's a horrible way to lose."

"It was a battle," Miley said. "I mean, those guys did a great job. They were laying off some pretty good pitches.

"I feel like it was bases loaded, one out every inning. Just trying to make pitches, and I was fortunate enough to get a couple ground balls."

Miley retired Adam LaRoche three times to end an inning — twice on double plays — before walking him to load the bases with two out in the seventh. Matt Stites got Wilson Ramos to fly out to right to end the threat.